Just a week ago, this US presidential primaries cycle was looking dry as dust: no Democrat contesting President Obama and Mitt Romney set to grab a majority of Republican delegates. He had, after all, captured both Iowa and New Hampshire. He was way ahead of his rivals in poll numbers and funds raised. But the Republicans have delivered unexpected theatrics this week. Their debate lecterns are down to four as two Republican candidates have opted out. Exchanges between Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul have grown more acerbic even as the race has grown tighter. The Iowa result has been revised in favour of Santorum, infusing him with renewed vigour to attack his rivals. And the South Carolina presidential primary takes place today; since the Republican primary began here in 1980, every candidate who has won it has gone on to be the party?s presidential nominee. What with being a Mormon and what with Gingrich upping his game at both debates this week, Romney may lose here! This is the site where John McCain?s candidacy sank in 2000 when the lie was spread that he had fathered an illegitimate black child. How does this matter when the economy should be the leading poll issue today? The answer you might find in sociological tomes but the proof you will find in transcripts of the Republican debate on Thursday, which opened with a question about marriage. The thrice-married Gingrich, it has been now
alleged, was cheating on his wife of 18 years while leading the impeachment of Bill Clinton on charges of lying about extramarital sex. Romney is boasting his marriage of 42 years and Paul of 54 years, by contrast. Candidates? plans to fix the economy, healthcare, job crisis et al definitely made fewer Friday headlines.
But let?s remember that the Obama vs Hillary Clinton fight for the Democratic nomination continued well into the June of 2008. However speaks South Carolina today, Florida may emphatically speak otherwise at the end of this month, and basically the candidate may not get locked down till Super Tuesday on March 6 when 10 states cast their votes for a Republican presidential nominee.